Serial fiction/ Dystopian fiction/ Christian fiction

A Painting, An E-Mail, and A New Beginning

“Blue Smoke” — last part. Vladislav and Ludmilla encounter some surprises along the way.

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Summer, 2044

Ludmilla and Vladislav

The green linden leaves rang with the chirping of swallows and starlings. Couples walked arm in arm down the path, together with elderly folks, young parents, and groups of friends. A little boy zipped past on a skateboard, earning himself an angry shout — “Watch it!” — from a mother leaning over a stroller. He flinched for a moment, then tilted his colorful board and veered toward the small bridge over the artificial lake.

Ludmilla gazed out at the water. The strong sunlight danced on the surface, tinting it emerald green. Now and then, an orange or red fish leapt above the water, blinked its dark eyes, then splashed back down.

We should get some fish, she thought idly, sipping from a plastic bottle of water. An aquarium would look amazing in the corner by the bar counter.

“I think it’s time I told you,” Vlad said beside her.

She turned to him. He sat hunched forward on the bench, elbows resting on his knees. He smiled at her…